Wire clamp and connecter



Marh 13, 1934. s P BECKER l 1,950,771

WIRE CLAMP AND CONNECTER Filed March 29, 19132` INVENTOR.

i715 -EL7'Z ephen P ,Becken M SSZQ-JTTORNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc-E This invention relates to a wire clamp or connecter of that class which is employed in electrical installations where it is desired to secure two or more wires together side by side and also 'where it is desired to take a tap off of a feed wire, and the present invention constitutes an improvement over the inventions shown in my applications for patents led on September 22, 1930, Serial No. 483,494 now Patent No. 1,932,009 dated October 24, 1933, and on November 28, 1931, Serial No. 577,741 now Patent No. 1,932,010 dated October 24, 1933, and relates more particularly to a clamp for holding together three wires of different diameters, although it may be used for any number of wires within its limits. l

While the device shown and claimed in my applications above referred to are adapted to retain two wires in parallel clamped relation with each otherand also three wires of a medium size, they are not adapted to clamp three wires in a secure manner where one or more of the wires are of small diameter, as the smaller or third wire tends to be forced away from the other wires and through the opening between the jaws.

To prevent this taking place, I have constructed a wire clamp or connecter for more than two wires, in which the jaws are so formed that at all times the opening between the jaws is covered or closed in such a manner that all of the wires are retained within the jaws and yet may be-readily inserted or removed therefrom without having to take the clamp apart.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the threads of the clamping bolt are protected and not allowed to come into -contact with the wires, this being -important should itlbe desirable not to mar the surface of the wire.

Still another object of the invention, is to provide means whereby the device comprises few parts and those so assembled as to be inseparable so that no parts willbe lost when applying the clamp to the wires.

A further object being to provide a wire clamp that shall be positive in its action and give a tight grip of the wires against any vibration that might tend to loosen them.

Another object of the invention being to construct the device in pairs for use on a long splice and to give the added strength of more than one clamping screw.

Also to provide a device of this kind that shall be cheap to make, durable and efficient,

and be readily taped when desired after being applied.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like igures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is understood that slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation. of the clamp, showing the same constructed with jaws having inclined or angular faces forming an opening inclined at an angle in relation to the direction of the wires to be held.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same, without showing the wires.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the construction.

Figure 4 is a side elevation o'f a similar clamp, but one in which the face of one jaw is formed with a tongue adapted to enter a recess formed in the other jaw, in such a manner that the tongue will at all times cover the opening to prevent the accidental escape of one of the wires.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the same.

Figure 6 is an end View of the same.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a similar clamp, having a tongue formed on one jaw and adapted to coact with a groove formed on the other jaw.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 9 is an end View of the same.

Figure l0 is a side elevation of a similar clamp, in which one jaw is formed with a lip which is adapted to extend over the top of the other jaw to close the opening between the jaws.

Figure 1l is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a duplex clamp. designed for a long splice and for use with more than one clamping screw.

Figure 13 shows a side elevation of a similar clamp, in which one jaw is formed with a U- m0 shaped recess having a prong extending over the opening between the jaws.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 15 is an end view of the clamp shown in Figure 12.

Referring to the drawing and to all of the views, the device comprises a stationary member and a sliding or movable member, each formed with a jaw. and secured together in clamped relation on the wires, by a bolt which no passes through the stationary member and which is threaded into the movable member, and prevented from removal after assembly by having its end upset.

Describing i'lrst the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the device comprises the stationary member 10, formed with the jaw 11 having the inclined face 12 and V-groove 13' and the guide- Way 14.

The movable member 15 is formed with the inclined jaw 16 having the V-groove 17, while its body portion is adapted to slide within the guide-way 14 of the stationary member, and is provided with a threaded bore 18 for the clamp bolt 19 which passes through the guide-way 14 and has the washer 20 thereon.

The body portion 15 of the movable member is formed with an arched tongue 21 adapted to cover the threads of the bolt 19 and prevent them from coming into contact with the wires, which are shown in Figure 1, as comprising three of a smaller diameter, and it will be seen that the two wires 22 are held within the V-grooves 17 and 13, while-the wire 23 is in contact with the two wires 22 and the underside of the inclined jaws in such a manner that it is securely retained, and all of 4the wires are forced together in clamped relation with each other.

In the construction shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the face of the stationary jaw 11 is formed with a tongue 24 which is adapted to enter the recess 25 formed in the face of the movable jaw 9, thus covering the opening when clamped and retaining the small wire 26 on the wires 27, but when the jaws are opened to their full extent, allowing the wires-to be inserted or removed from the side of the clamp.

In Figures?, 8 and 9, the movable jaw 9 is formed with the tongue 24 which is adapted to slide within the groove 25 which is formed on the top of the stationary jaw 11, and in this case the two small wires 30 are shown in the V- grooves and the one large wire 31 in contact therewith and with the tongue 28 and arch 21.

In Figures 10 and 11, the stationary jaw- 11 is formedwith a lip 32 having an angular face 33 and adapted to slide over the top of the movable face or jaw 9, for the same purpose as the other clamps, and the Itwo large wires 34 and the one smaller wire 35 are shown, although in this and theother clamps described the' wires may be of any size within thev limits. of the size clamp used, and they may all be of one diameter or all of diierent diameters as desired. The portions of the jaw members which associate with the bolt to perform the clamping action in this modification are similar to the form oi.' Figs. 1 to 3, and need not be further described.

In the clamp shown in Figures 13 and 14, the jaw on the movable member 15 is U-shaped as shown by the numeral 36, and is formed with a prong 37 adapted to register with and enter a V 38 formed in the face oi the stationary :law 11; this construction being adapted for holding a number oi wires as i'or example, the two large wires 40 and the two smaller wires 41; the wires 41 being forced against the sides of the U-shaped jaw by the clamping action of the wires 40.

In all of the above described constructions, it will `be noted that the end of the clamp screw 19 is upset as at 42 after being assembled to prevent its removal and the loss of any of the parts. wires, two 22 of the same diameter and one 23 InFigures 10, 12, 13 and 14 the arch over the threadsvof the bolt are not employed, but may be if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A conductor clamp, comprising a stationary member of L-shaped formation, having a guideway in one arm, and a V-shaped jaw on the other arm, a movable member of L-shaped formation, having a slide in one arm for cooperation with the guideway on the stationary member, and a V-shaped jaw opposed to the jaw on the stationary member, said V-shaped jaws providing grooves for receiving and retaining conductors, each of said members having auxiliary jaw portions of planer formation adjacent said V-shaped jaws for receiving and retaining a conductor, adjacent the conductors retained by the V-shaped jaws, lips formed on each of said members outwardly of said auxiliary jaw portions, and bridging the space between said auxiliary jaw portions, said lips being correspondingly beveled in a direction longitudinally to that of the conductor grooves formed by the V- shaped jaws, one of said lips over-lapping the other of said lips when the members are moved towards a closed position, whereby a` conductor may be inserted between said lips into the jaws to be retained by said lips, and a bolt rotatable relative to said stationary member, and threadably engaged, with said movable member, for

one another.

STEPHEN P. BECKER. 

